it s a debate between a rusty president obama and a well rehearsed mitt romney. >> reporter: right out of the gate, it was clear, mitt romney came to play. >> the president has a view very similar to the view he had when he ran four years ago that a bigger government, spending more, taxing more, regulating more, if you will, trickle down government would work. >> reporter: president obama sounded a familiar alarm, warning of romney's been there, done that economics. >> the approach that governor romney is talking about is the same sales pitch made in 2001 and 2003. and we ended up with the slowest job growth in 50 years. >> reporter: but whether it was health care, jobs, or medicare, it was romney who stood out for his aggressive style. >> i just don't know how the president could have come into office facing 23 million people out of work, rising unemployment, an economic crisis at the kitchen table and spend his energy and passion for two years fighting for obama care. >> reporter: the president made his points in a slower, laid back manner, often appearing disengaged. it's not that h